Office Closure - The VONEF Office and building reception will be closed on Monday 7th May 2007 - May Day Holiday.

GARDENER's Market - There are still places available at the Gardeners Market. 19th May 2007. Email Sue for booking form or further information.

CHANGES TO COMPANY LEGISLATION

As many voluntary organisations have the status of Company Limited by Guarantee, it is important to highlight that changes to Company Law have come into effect this year. Since January 1 2007, companies have been required to disclose the following information on their websites and electronic documentation such as emails:

Company Name
Registered Number
Registered Address
Place of Registration
Many organisations will already have this information on their websites, but may not have thought of including it in email correspondence. Please check that you are up to date if your organisation is a Company Limited by Guarantee

EVENTS

Mobus - Its a Knockout - fun day out - 1ST JULY 2007, KING GEORGE V PARK, LEVEN
Contact 01333 429000

It could be you

Groups attending this year's annual voluntary sector Gathering event will be leaving with up to £10,000 extra in their pockets, as Scotland's biggest lottery funder tests out a new live grant-making scheme which will give away £200,000.

Successful groups will be depending on the support of their peers to ensure they get a slice of the £200,000 that the Big Lottery Fund Scotland (BLFS) will be distributing exclusively at the event. The live grant-making scheme is the first of its kind in the UK and will involve organisations making a public pitch to attendees at the Gathering, who will then vote on which bids they think are most worthy, using an electronic voting device. The aim of the pilot project, which will see grants of between £500 and £10,000 handed out, is to give the public a bigger say on how Lottery funds are spent. If successful it is expected that the live grant-making model will be rolled out at other events.

Organisations interested in applying for the live grant-making programme at the Gathering, can contact BLFS in advance for advice. However, grant officers will be at the Gathering from the first day to provide help to groups wishing to apply.

Grants will be distributed to projects that will mark the passage of 200 years since parliament outlawed slavery in March 1807, including human rights projects.

The Gathering is being held at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow from 24-26 May. Around 130 voluntary organisations will be exhibiting in the main hall and up to 50 debates, talks and workshops, such as an Oxfam poverty event and a Choose Life suicide event, will run over the three days.

This year will also see the first TFN Annual Charity Awards presented at the SCVO dinner on 24 May. There is limited exhibition and event space still available and seats can still be booked for the SCVO dinner.

Email alex.thomson@scvo.org.uk or call 0131 474 6152 for more information.

Scottish Business in the Community is running an HR Training Course to improve awareness, knowledge and good human resources practice amongst social enterprises, community and voluntary organisations in Fife. Topics covered include Data Protection & Human Rights, Recruitment, Equal Opportunities, Working Time Regulations. Dates for the 3-day course: Tuesday 24 April, Tuesday 5 May, Tuesday 12 June (9.00 – 3.00) at BRAG Enterprises Ltd, Crosshill Business Centre. Details from Hilary Robb, 07919 477229, fife.sbc@virgin.net

First Aid Training - There is still one place available on the course being run on Wednesday 23rd May. Contact Sue to book, or for further information.